Samuel Fillion has emerged as a driving force in the driver’s colony at the Hippodrome 3R this season as he drove the 7-1 shot D J Power to a mild upset victory in the $4,500 Preferred Handicap Pace on Friday afternoon (July 31).
Getting away in second-place behind pacesetter Outlaw Turn N Burn (Francis Picard) after the start of the fourth race co-feature, Fillion knew he had to stay in place until the right moment. They went to the opening quarter-mile in :28.1.
Still leading at the half-mile marker in :58.3, Outlaw Turn N Burn faced his first challenge from Surf Report (Martin Gingras) who came first-over followed by the race favourite, Windsun Cheyenne (Pascal Berube), who was going for his third straight win in the top class at H3R.
Heading down the backstretch the final time, Outlaw Turn N Burn was still in command as Berube sent Windsun Cheyenne three-wide but had trouble getting by Surf Report at the three-quarters in 1:27.3. It was than that Fillion made his winning move.
Pulling from the pocket approaching the final turn, Fillion took D J Power to the outside as Windsun Cheyenne was stalled three-wide. Fillion urge his pacer on and, as they started down the stretch, D J Power had all the momentum he needed to get the job done. He won by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:56.4 over Outlaw Turn N Burn while a late-closing Brunos From Mars (Pierre Luc Roy) was third.
For D J Power, the win his third this season, all at H3R for trainer and owner Jean Marc Roy of Mont-Joli, Que. D J Power paid $17.40 to win. Fillion now has eight wins at H3R this meet.
In the fifth race Preferred Handicap Trot co-feature, it was all Keepall leading from the very start. With regular pilot Carol Voyer in the sulky, Keepall left like a rocket and took early command of the race and was never headed, winning by 1-3/4 lengths in 1:59.2. Missionoftheheart (Stephane Gendron) tried two moves in coming after Keepall to no avail but held for second-place with Lucky Promesses (Pascal Berube) third.
It was the second straight win and fourth of the season for Keepall. The six-year-old gelding by Angus Hall is trained by Sylvain Tremblay for owners Ecurie Alpha and Gino Curadeau. He paid $3.60 to win as the betting favourite.
Track Notes: Both Samuel Fillion and Stephane Gendron scored driving doubles. With a training double on Friday, Maxime Velaye moved into a tie for the lead in the trainer standings. He now has seven wins along with Charles Gaudreault. Live racing resumes on Sunday afternoon, first race post time at 1 p.m. The program will feature the return winner Wild River Swan (post four) heading the sixth race Preferred Handicap Mares Pace against Godiva MacKiaveluc (post seven) and Y C Easy (post eight).
To view Friday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Friday Results - Hippodrome 3R.
(With files from Quebec Jockey Club)